Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-10-20

LQTOQue huu D1tI 20 MAKE a StUft 10 DC Tree.
"Be calm, my children" said Roger, "and
leave u.s. am the victim of some mistake,
and tonight, or at least tomorrow, shall be
here Do not be uneasy about your pay,
which you will receive tonight from your
foreman"
The busy fabric was sti.. for it was the
dinner hour, and Roger turned All The gate
and looked back at the building with heart
full of despairing grief, sinister PRESENT.
ment 81 shall never see this again." thought
he And leaning from the carriage he looked
back at the dusty windows with aching eyes
During the return voyage to Versailles,
which he made between the two detectives,
he thought of nothing but his wife and child.
When the train passed before Vile d'Avray
his heart swelled. There but a few steps from
him were the two cherished loves of his life,
and as the windows of the car were lowered
on account of the heat he had sort of hallu-
cination, he was so far from the TRUTH
He imagined he heard the silvery voice of
Suzanne, while she ran gayly among the
flowers. Then he closed his eyes and wept in
silence.
Roger Laroque had married Henriette, the
only child of George Bernardo, proprietor of
the machine works at Rue Saint Maur. His
his being taken into partnership with his
father-in-law who was in poor health. And
soon the death of NJ Bernardo msfle him sole
master of the great works. 1t was not great
fortune, but perhaps was the means of future
wealth, but it was proof of bis probity and
honor that Henriette's father should have left
it to him.
Roger was young and strong. He had
great confidence in himself, and instead OF
going along in the same old way he extended
the business, enlarged the shops and looked
about for new openings As he did not possess
the machinery necessary to carry out his new
plans, he accepted from an old friend of his
fathers, Celestin Vaubernon, an old machine
ist like himself, loan of a 10000 francs,
which enabled him to get new and improved
machinery to fill the new orders he received,
and augmenting thus the productive power
of the house gave it new life and vigor. He
had faith in the future, and indeed the two
following years were very profitable.
BY his marriage Roger Laroque had formed
excellent relations with the best Partisan
society. He went much into company, and
they were both, he and his wife, very happy,
particularly when in 1866 Suzanne was born.
Before his marriage with Henriette, Roger
had met one evening at ball woman whose
remarkable beauty surprised and troubled
him. She was Nine. Julia de Noirville, wife
of celebrated lawyer, and daughter of a
Spanish father and an Arab mother, and she
had the seal of her races strongly marked in
her features and her nature. Her profile was
perfect, with fine nose, beautiful mouth and
teeth, and magnificent eyes full of ardent
flames. Her form was slender, yet rounded
with perfect grace, and her every move
ment was full of q soft and languorous charm.
What fatality pushed them forward who
can tell? Loves If he had had time to reason
with himself regarding the strange infatua-
ton that drew him onward, perhaps he might
have resisted, but in his unthnking youth,
borne upon a resistless and rapid current, he
fell victim, and after he had fallen he
blushed with shame to have so easily coded.
But it was too late; he was Julia's slave.
We cannot explain nor excuse such fault,
but it was sad fact which was to bear
bitter fruit in after years
Julia loved Roger with a strength and
depth Of passion that frightened while it
wearied him. Relying upon that strange
prescence of true love Julia knew that
Roger did not love her, had never loved her,
and her untamed nature made her fierce and
cruel in her demands. This was the only
fault in the life of Laroque, and he was to
expiate it cruelty.
Lucien de Noirville, the lawyer, had mar
ried Julia during voyage he had made in
Algiers. The first years of their marriage
his life was calm enough. Julia had two
children, boys, and when they were, so to
speak, out of her arms she plunged into the
widest extravagances, and her toiIettes were
the marvel of all who saw her and who knew
that Lucien, although making comfortable
income, could not afford such unlimited ex-
pense in dress and jewels.
A last Lucien was constrained to have an
explanation with his wife, the more so as he
had overheard some very severe criticisms on
her extravaganza during the evening at a
ball. As soon as they were at home he came
to her and said
Julia, have something to say to Won.
and it is useless to put it off any longer, for
it is a vital subject We are not rich, as
you know, and yet your toilets cost more
every year than all our other expenses, and
with them almost exceed our income. Twice
before this | have paid bills which you have
contracted which were more than $4,000
francs. While do not object to your dress
ing as well as our means afford, do not
wish you to go into debt again. l have a
HOTIuI OF ueDt, ana we nave also the future
of our children to consider"
For an answer Julia gave him an indiffer-
emit look as she unfastened her magnificent
hair and let it fall over her shoulders.
1T Is, therefore, important, even urgent.
that you check this reckless extravaganza. ,
continued Lucien, little bitterly, as be OBJ
served her indifference. Listen to what I
say, and it is my last word upon the subject.
If you do not take heed of what say l shall
leave you, and a separation viii cause great
scandal and it viii break my heart, for love
YOU
SIT you loved me-" said she scornfulIy,
though she grew pale. show could you contem.